The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-04-03
A PAIR OF MANLY MEN.

The Bull and the Tiger Spiendidly Exempli-
fled in Downing and Mnldoon.
Special to the Indiagapoiis Journal
NEW YORK. April "A notable athletic exhi-
bition has been made this week in the arena
scene in "Spartacus." by Robert Downing the
Spartacus and William Muldoon the Fighting
Gaul whom Spartacus Stays. Downing is con-
structed on the massive principle of the late
Edwin Forrest. His legs are towers, his neck
is corded pillar, which seems preposterous
support for his compact head, and his huge arms
would weary any ordinary body, although the
vast trunk of this colossal Spartacus would
seem to warrant them. The arena scene is well
set Its lifting tiers Of noble Romans, done in
paste board and by the artists brush are very
iusory, and are made to appear still more
natural by reason of the living and moving
figures which are scattered among them. When
the massive Spartacus stalks upon the sands
he is greeted by murmur of EXPLANATIONS,
which seem to issue from the terraced populace
of the scene-painter's circus, although it is the
fascinated people in front of the foot-lights who
utter them neatly. The gladiator's arms are
bare, and for the rest he wears flesh coored
tights, and seems 10 show fine natural skin
where his armor does not cover him. his right
-
right arm. Upon his left arm hangs shield Of
hammered brass, some eighteen inches in diam
eter. His right hand clutches sword. short
broad. and double edged. good for either stroke
or thrust. He has smooth face and bullet
head covered with dark, short, curled hair. The
face wdens at the chin and jowls. in order to III
the stupendous neck. 1t is the human equiva-
lent Of magnificent bull that faces the red-robed
prsetor in the box above his broad chest heaving,
and the great cords of his neck tercely outstand-
ing as he demands adversary that is a Roman
The adversary that is forthcoming is not a
Roman, even upon the bills, but any Roman
might have thanked the gods for making him to
look like Mr. William Mnldoon The fighting
Ganl bounds into the arena as the tiger leaps.
Perhaps nothing in physical way could be
finer to look at He is for the most part covered
with hesh-colored tights-though his great arms
are bare-bus those tights cling to him like his
own skin. His movements have the grace and
the easy and elastic power of the tigers. he is
human likeness of splendid Bengal. His
muscles not flintlike, and do not stand out
| in sharp ridges ike those of the amented
| Whistler, who was machine of steel: hut they
| are laid upon him in long, sloping swells that
| chsszil the eye While giving. at the same time.
| an impression of great power. Such splendid
| shoulders, loins and legs rarely seen in the
| human makeup. He is as handsome as An
| toniuus. this ex-New York policeman. and yet
| he looks as ii he could strike a man dead at a
blow. Just as the tiger can. Spartacus Is line
| bull but the spectators feel that the chances Of
| the Thracian would be very poor were Mr. Null
| doom to be let loose upon him unhampered by
| the limitations of the play
| The fight is fine. The tiger springs upon the
| bull and the bull losses him away. The broad
| swords clash together and upon the brazen
shields, shifting showers of yellow sparks The
| animated Romans still and breathless as
| the pasteboard Ones and far down over the rail
| ing of the real gallery hang the open -mouthed
| faces Of the fascinated gods Round and round,
| writing and bounding and shifting, go the glad
| iators for perhaps minute. when blow from
| Spartacus sends the sword flying from the hand
| of Muldoon. A ngdrawn "Ah -h-ht floats down
| from the upper theatre as the sword rattes upon
| the boards and the disarmed gladiator catches a
| shower of triumphant blows upon his sounding
| shield. Twice more in circle goes he around.
Offering his inadequate buckler against the fierce
| rain and then falls, stretching out his hand to
| the praator for mercy 1t is high time for the
| combat TO end, tor the gigantic Spartacus is
| plainly winded, and the sweat is streaming from
| his forehead. He hesitates at the prator's COM
| mand, but in moment his sword has passed un-
der the fifth rib of the defeated Gaul and the
| perb body of the great Muldoon shivers and
ant in doc